Articles By Sarah Tipton
- Top Ten Things You Should Know About California Wage and Hour Law
In California, the rules about pay and hours worked are outlined in the California Fair Labor Standards Act. They are there to make sure that workers are treated fairly. If…
- Top Ten Reasons You Can Be Fired from Your Job
Though the list is seemingly endless, the following are ten of the most common legal reasons for which a person’s employment may be terminated. Some may mistake these reasons for…
- Why Should You Incorporate Your Business?
To incorporate a business means using a legal process to form a company or corporate entity. A corporation is a legal entity that separates the business’ income and assets from…
- How to Get a Deed of Trust
A deed of trust is a specific type of secured real estate transaction that is sometimes used instead of a mortgage. It is an agreement between a home buyer and…
- Malice Legal Definition
Murder is generally defined in criminal law as the unlawful killing of another human being with “malice aforethought.” This term doesn’t simply mean with prior planning or premeditation but also…
- No Fly List Lawyers
Following the terrorist attacks which occurred on September 11, 2001, the federal government of the United States took numerous steps to prevent as well as combat terrorism in the country.…
- Paying Employees Under the Table
To “pay someone under the table” means that an employer pays an employee cash without making the deductions required by law. Federal, state, and local laws require employers to take…
- Robotic Surgery Lawsuits
Robotic surgery was first introduced in the 1980’s and, since then, has become an increasingly common addition to a surgical procedure. Robotic surgeries are known to reduce fatigue as well…
- Drug-Free Workplace Act
Drug-free workplaces include initiatives which are put into place to protect employees and employers from workplace substance abuse. The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 established guidelines for employers to maintain…
- Fiance Visa Fraud
When an individual is a fiancé of an American, is currently living abroad, and wishes to obtain a visa so they can come to the United States in order to…
- What is a Strict Liability Tort?
A tort is a civil (i.e., non-criminal) wrong that causes someone to suffer loss or harm. While criminal law aims to punish individuals who commit crimes, tort law aims to…
- Iowa Inheritance Tax
Iowa’s inheritance tax is a tax that is imposed on the beneficiaries of a person who died and left property or assets to them. The tax rate depends on the…
- Scope of Employment Definition
In legal terms, the scope of employment refers to the range of activities that an employee is reasonably expected to participate in as part of their job duties.Within this range…
- What’s the Difference Between an Annulment and a Divorce?
An annulment, similar to a divorce, dissolves a marriage. There are, however, differences between the two. An annulment treats a marriage as though it never occurred in the first place.…
- Understanding the Citizenship Test
A citizenship test is the exam that a foreign-born national must take in order to achieve the full status of U.S. citizenship. The citizenship test is typically administered to those…
- Does My Business Bankruptcy Affect My Spouse’s Credit?
Once a couple marries, managing financial responsibility becomes a core part of their relationship. One spouse may have a better financial standing than the other. But, once they are in…
- Car Accidents Caused by Cell Phone Use
Whether you can legally use a cell phone while driving largely depends on where you reside. While there is no federal ban against using your cell phone while driving, there…
- Understanding an Affidavit of Service
Affidavits are legal documents which contain written sworn statements. Individuals may be asked to sign affidavits when they need to verify or certify certain facts which they said are true…
- Workers Compensation Statute of Limitations
Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides compensation to employees who are injured while on the job. An employee who is injured on the job is guaranteed benefits…
- How to Find a Workplace Attorney?
In today’s dynamic work environment, it’s never been more important to understand the role of a workplace attorney, often known as an employment lawyer. These legal professionals resolve matters related…
- Is a Dog Sitter Liable for Dog Bites?
In a legal context, dog owners are generally liable for any injuries that their pet may cause. However, temporary caretakers of the animal may also be held liable if the…
- Pensions and Investments Law
Pensions and investments are financial tools people use to prepare to provide income for themselves in retirement. Not all employers offer pensions, but those who do, contribute money to the…
- How to Protect Assets during Foreclosure
A foreclosure is legal action wherein a creditor can repossess a borrower’s property in the event that they default on a loan that was attached to the property. When a…
- Hospital Accident Statistics
Though hospitals are typically thought of as medical establishments that are safe and promote health and healing, they are not immune from being the cause of accidents and injury. Since…
- Gender and Sex Inequality in the Workplace
Gender discrimination ensues when a person or group is treated differently based on gender, also referred to as gender inequality. One group may be given preferential treatment such as higher…
- LGBT Rights in Oregon
In general, it is against the law for an employer to discriminate on the basis of certain protected characteristics, including: Age; Race; Religion; Sex; and Other categories. In addition to…
- Mobbing Defenses
The term mobbing refers to a group of colleagues in a workplace who band together as a means to harass, humiliate, intimidate, or bully a co-worker. In other words, mobbing…
- How to Legally Change Your Name in Oregon?
A legal name change in Oregon is a process that allows a person to change their name for any reason, as long as it is not fraudulent, misleading, or harmful…
- Determining the Best Interest of Child in Texas – Family Code 263.307
In Texas, the child’s best interest standard is found in Texas Family Code 263.307 and Texas Family Code 153.002. The main concern for Texas courts when making a final decision…
- Child’s Best Interest Standard in New York
There is no standard definition of the best interest of the child. However, the term usually refers to the deliberation that a court engages in when determining what will best…
- Employer Sanctions for Hiring Undocumented Workers
Until 1986, employers risked very little if they employed undocumented immigrants. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) started sanctioning employers who employed or recruited unauthorized individuals to…
- California Cycling Laws
California bike laws are the rules and regulations that govern the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists on public roads and paths. Under California bicycle laws, cyclists must ride on the…
- Resolving an Unlawful Termination Dispute
An illegal termination dispute may happen when a worker feels like they have been illegally fired by their boss and they decide to take action. A wrongful termination is any…
- Do You Have a Criminal Case?
The most efficient way to discover if you have a criminal case against someone is to contact the police and a lawyer. Some cases go unreported and without punishment because…
- Teacher Tenure Laws
Like all citizens, tenured teachers are protected by the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This clause ensures that no person is deprived of their life, liberty, or property…
- Non-Custodial Parent Laws
A non-custodial parent is the parent who does not have primary physical custody of the child. This means that the child does not live with this parent the majority of…
- Liability for Failure to Vaccinate
When parents choose not to vaccinate their children, they can potentially face legal consequences, especially if their child’s lack of vaccination leads to an outbreak or the harm of another…
- Understanding Employee Documentation
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (“IRCA”) was signed into law in 1986. The purpose of this law was to amend, revise, reform, and reassess the status of unauthorized immigrants…
- Spouse Visa
A V visa is a specific type of visa category that is reserved for nonimmigrants. The V visa was created by the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act (“LIFE Act”), which…
- Medical Malpractice Negligence
The terms “medical negligence” and “medical malpractice” are often used interchangeably. In a legal sense, medical negligence is just one required element that must be proven in order to have…
- Green Card Marriage Laws
The term green card refers to what is known officially as a permanent residence card. It is an identity document showing that the card’s named holder has been granted permanent…
- Abstract Title Laws
A deed is a legal document which transfers ownership of a home, or a piece of property, from one person to another. The physical deed document will generally describe, in…
- Parental Preference Rule
The parental preference rule is one that is applied in child custody cases. It states that there is a preference that custody of children be given to a fit biological…
- Child-Up Parenting Plan Lawyers
In a divorce or separation, a “child-up” parenting plan refers to an approach to child-rearing that focuses on the emotional and psychological health of the child. This type of parenting…
- Unsafe Working Conditions and Imminent Danger
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more commonly known by its acronym “OSHA”, is a federal agency that operates under the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) and is responsible for…
- Temporary Order of Child Support
Child Support is the legal obligation that every parent must pay when they separate or divorce. When parents are not in agreement in regards to the child support, the court…
- Child Visitation
Under child visitation laws, child visitation rights are provided to the non-custodial parent in a divorce and child custody case. The terms of the visitation are outlined in the child…
- Furlough vs. Layoffs
Furlough is a temporary leave of absence from work that an employer grants to an employee. During a furlough, the employee is not required to work and is typically not…
- Employee Documentation Laws
Employee documentation refers to the necessary paperwork and files that an employer maintains for each of their employees. This documentation aids in confirming an individual’s eligibility to work within the…
- Immigration Fraud Law
Immigration fraud is intentionally misrepresenting facts or providing false information to gain an immigration benefit. It can take many forms, such as lying on an application or interview, using fake…